Novak Djokovic Silences Retirement Talk and Announces US Open Plans: “I Can Always Be Better”

Novak Djokovic‘s pursuit of an 8th Wimbledon title came to a crushing end last Friday as he lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The Serb was playing in his 8th consecutive Wimbledon semifinal, but he was outplayed completely by his young Italian opponent.

After the defeat, many people have questioned Djokovic’s powers and future in the game. However, the former World No.1 has already moved past the defeat and is looking forward to Flushing Meadows in New York. He told Gayle King in an interview:

I am thinking about playing great tennis, and really, if I’m not thinking about it, people remind me. If people don’t remind me of my age, then my body reminds me, and you’re just trying to leverage every percent of energy you can to still compete at an elite level against young players.

Djokovic specifically talked about his epic five-setter in the Wimbledon quarterfinals against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Although he has never lost a match extending over 5 hours, the Serb cannot afford to go there consistently at the age of 39. He added:

The body responds differently, and that’s just biology. The wear and tear of over 20 years at the highest level is taking its toll, and it takes me longer to recover. After those quarterfinals of five hours and fifteen minutes, I just couldn’t recover fully for the semifinals and wasn’t as fresh as I wanted, but without taking credit away from Sinner, who won and took the tournament.

“I can always be better than I was yesterday”: @DjokerNole is one of the greatest athletes of all time, but he told @gayleking that he’s aware of how his body responds differently now that he’s been playing elite tennis for more than two decades.

Djokovic shared about scaling… pic.twitter.com/fC4Ja6TiaF

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) July 17, 2026

Djokovic has reached at least the semifinals of 6 of his last 7 Grand Slams. His big highlight this year was the 2026 Australian Open semifinal against Sinner, where he won in 5 sets.

Novak Djokovic discusses US Open plans

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is currently preparing for the US Open, an event he has won 4 times. The Serb won his 24th and most recent Grand Slam in New York.

The US Open is one of the four Grand Slams, and I think it’s the most entertaining and exciting, in addition to having the largest stadium in our sport. I can’t wait. One of the main reasons why I still compete is the energy from the crowd and the appreciation and respect I’ve received, especially in recent years around the world, something I can’t thank enough for. It means a lot to me.

Djokovic was eyeing a match with Roger Federer‘s record for most Wimbledon titles. However, he will have a chance to match his great rival’s record of 5 US Open titles in September.

Unlike Wimbledon, the US Open record doesn’t just belong to Federer. Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors have also won 5 titles. However, Federer’s tally is iconic because the Swiss legend won it 5 consecutive times.

Djokovic is yet to announce whether he will play the Canadian Open or the Cincinnati Open. The Serb hasn’t played either of those events in the past couple of seasons.

Novak Djokovic’s premiere attended by thousands of sportsmen

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic celebrated the upcoming release of his documentary The Wolf in Winter with an exclusive premiere at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The red carpet event attracted a diverse mix of guests from sports, fashion, and entertainment, highlighting how Djokovic’s story resonates far beyond tennis.

The star-studded gathering included boxing legend Mike Tyson, football icons Zlatan Ibrahimović, Cafu, and Roberto Carlos, as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Tennis greats John McEnroe and Juan Martín del Potro joined the occasion, alongside Serbian basketball captain Bogdan Bogdanović and Vogue’s longtime editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, adding a strong fashion presence to the evening.

The screening was held nearly a month before the documentary’s official debut on Prime Video, set for 20 August. Directed by Jason Hehir, best known for The Last Dance about Michael Jordan, the film promises a similarly compelling look at Djokovic’s journey.

With 24 Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and a record 428 weeks as world number one, Djokovic’s career achievements are unmatched. Yet, as he told Vogue Adria in 2024, his true strength lies in adaptability without compromising his convictions.

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